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Sex, Love and Violence: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in a Globalized World

Watch a short video of our 2013 Spring Seminar!!

Each year the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO) hosts our Spring Seminar. Our 2013 theme was Sex, Love, and Violence: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in a Globalized World.

Throughout the seminar participants met in collaboration groups to discuss and process the informational panels and activities. At the end of the conference, each collaboration group submitted a statement which contributed to our annual Spring Seminar Statement. Below is our collective statement from 2013.

UU United Nations 2013 Seminar Statement

Whereas:

Cultural and societal shifts often start with personal transformation;

Unitarian Universalism is a faith that recognizes the inherent worth and dignity of all people and views love as sacred;

There is a pervasive world-wide assumption that all people are heterosexual (heteronormativity);

There is a pervasive world-wide assumption that peoples’ gender identities always match their biologically assigned sex;

There are real risks involved with “coming out” about having a marginalized sexual orientation and/or gender identity;

The United Nations has recently begun openly supporting and advocating for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Human Rights;

Throughout the world people are subject to violence, harassment, persecution, and institutionalized oppression based on their perceived or actual sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions;

Knowledge that momentous events of human rights movements vary from generation to generation and experience with these events provides a unique lens;

We therefore resolve to:

Combat discrimination and violence based on perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity;

Use a faith and value-based perspective to advocate for the support and protection of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities;

Be accountable for our own actions and words while striving to celebrate our authentic selves;

Act in solidarity with those whose sexual orientations and gender identities differ from societal norms;

Actively welcome all people at all stages of their personal journey, and to support their personal growth and choices;

Advocate for equality and strive for social justice;

Continue to support the United Nations’ LGBT advocacy work and its commitment to stopping discriminatory policies;

Strive to ensure that all congregations become “Welcoming Congregations” which institutionalize proactive and welcoming measures for people who are marginalized due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity and expression;

Affirm these experiences by engaging in intergenerational dialogue to create a just future for all of humanity.